Sweeping indicator for dust suction pipes



April 17, 1945.

D. B. REPLOGL'E' SWEEPING INDICATOR FOR DUST SUCTION PIPES Filed Jan. 7; 1942 Patented Apr. 17, 1945 Daniel Benson Replogle, Berkeley,.Calif.; Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association, Carl S. Replogle, Harold E. Queen, and Laurie H. Bullock, executors of said Daniel Benson Replogle, deceased, assignors to The Ohio Citizens Trust Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, as trustee Application January 7, 1942, Serial No. 425,927

8 Claims. (01. soz-f-ss') The inventionrelates to dust indicators for suction cleaning systems of the general type set forth in my copending application Ser; No. 411,931, filed September 22, 1941, now Patent No- 2,293,920, dated August 25,1942.

As in my aforesaid'patent, the primary object of the present invention is to provide-an improved visible indicator wherebythe quantity and qualityof dust being drawn through the system will be readily apparent to the operator of the cleaner.

In common with the disclosure of my patent No. 2,293,920 the present device comprises an indicator interposed in the cleaning system at some point between a suction nozzle and a sourceof suction, and includes a diaphragm element ordeflector ring adapted to be positioned within the indicator casing diagonally with'reference to the inletand outlet of the indicator. The diaphragm is provided with a central opening to allow passage. ,of airthrough an exit toward the source of suction, and the opening may be, and preferably is, protected by a screen which is adapted to retain large objects as, for example, objects of value,,such as jewelry and the like, which may have been accidentally-drawn into the system.

According tothe present invention, ready access to the interior of the indicator may be had by means of a removable cover. I v I 7 Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a frame forthe screen permitting ready removal thereof and replacement by 'a screen of different mesh, if desired, or permitting the operation of the indicator without any screen.

, Another feature of the invention is the proyision of improved means whereby the screen may be freed of accumulated dirt without reversing the direction in which theair is whirling about the indicator, this being accomplished,'according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, by shifting the diaphragm from one diagon'aluposi tion with reference to the inlet and outlet'openrings to the opposite diagonal position with reference thereto. A thumbo-r finger 'piecereadily accessible to the hand of the operator may beeniployed for shifting the diaphragm in one direction and a suitable spring may. be employed for returning the diaphragmto its initial position when the finger piece is released. I

The invention will be more readily understood nozzle (not shown) Fig. l'is a left-side assembly view of the indicator; -;Fig'. 2 is a top plan View of the same, with the cover shown slightly separated;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the same;

Fig.- 4 is'an elevation showing the diaphragm and supporting and operating means therefor, the *screenzhaving been removed from the diaphragm;

Fig-.5 is antedge view of the diaphragm;

Figs fi and- 7 .are, respectively, an elevation andanedge view of the removable screen, and :Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the indicator in use.

Referring first to Fig. 8, A denotes the indicator, which is adapted to be held in the hand of the operator in the upright, position as shown. The inlet pipe of the indicator is adapted to be connected to a tubular section B of the suction cleaning, system, which section leads from a suction The outlet portion of the indicator isconnected to a tubular section C of the suctioncleaning system which communicates with a suitable source of suction (not shown). One or both sides of theindicator maybe formed of transparent material, or the entire indicator may betransparent, to permit the operator to observe the incoming dust. y r The indicator is provided with a deflecting ring or diaphragm D, which is adapted to cause whirling movement of the air entering. through the inlet, and this diaphragm is set diagonally across thetindicator casing between the inlet and outlet openings. u

As more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the indicator. includes a cylindrical body portion II], which may be of metal or, plastic synthetic material. The body or casing I 0 is provided with a short inlet pipe H and a short outlet pipe I2. The

I arewelded or otherwise secured together to inby reference to the accompanying drawing, which clude the diaphragm D, which is rotatably mounted on a central vertical axis XY. One of the halves'l3 of the casing may be formed with an integral rounded end wall l6, while the other half is provided with an open face adapted to be closed by a cover I! of transparent material which may be slipped over the flange l8 of the member I4, or, if desired, both faces of the body ,or casing maybe punched out and provided with transparent covers, but greater strength is secured by retaining the end wall l6 integral with the casing,

as illustrated. On the other hand, greater visibility may be obtained by making the entire body ID of transparent material.

The diaphragm D comprises a deflector ring of any suitable material, as metal, cardboard, or plastic material, and may be either opaque or transparent. The deflector ring is adapted to be mounted for limited rotation about a vertical axis, and for this purpose is provided with a supporting and actuating member or yoke, generally designated by the reference numeral 2', which yoke includes upper and lower vertical shaft portions 22 and 23 the ends of which serve as bearings, a circular portion 24 intermediate the vertical portions 22 and 23 which circular portion bounds the central opening 25 of the diaphragm and provides a seat for a screen member 40, shown in Figs. 6 and '7. The yoke also includes a crank or handle portio 26 extending outside of the oasing of the indicator, which handle may be supported and guided in a U-shaped stirrup 21 secured to the base of the casing at a position slightly removed from the lower bearing member 22. The stirrup 21 serves as a combined support, stop and guide for the handle or finger piece 26. The diaphragm D is normally held in the diagonal position with reference to the inlet H and outlet I2, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, by means of a spring 28a. carried by the handle 26 and having a portion bearing against the interior of the stirrup 21, \as best shown in Fig. 3. The diaphragm may be shifted to the opposite diagonal position by manual operation of the handle to permit the air to clean the diaphragm and screen of accumulated dust.

The supporting and operating yoke 2| may be formed of a pair of relatively stiff, yet still resilient, wires 28, 29 of semi-circular cross-section, which wires are welded together at. the pivot points 30 and 3! of the yoke and at the handle or 1 28 and 29. r

The screen member 4!] includes a rim portion.

4! and is adapted to be removably and resiliently mounted in the circular portion 24 of the yoke 2|. The screen is accessible from the open side of the indicator casing when the transparent slipcover I! is removed.

The operation of the improved indicator will be apparent from the foregoing description. The assembled indicator shown in Fig. l is adapted to be included between a pair of adjacent tubular members B and C of a suction cleaning system as illustrated in Fig. 8, the member B fitting the inlet pipe H and the member C fitting the outlet pipe 12. The indicator is adapted to be readily applied-to or removed from the system when desired. Dusteladen airdrawn in through the inlet is given a whirling movement by the deflector ring 20, which extends diagonally between the inlct and outlet, and such air eventually passes through the screen to the outlet, the screen serving to collect any large solid articles. If dust tends to accumulate'on one face of the diaphragm and screen, this may be remedied by moving the finger piece 26 with the fingers of the same hand which grips the indicator, as illustrated in'Fig. 8, after which the finger piece will I the interior cleaned. When the cover I! is removed, the screen!!! is accessible and may be removed for cleaning or other purposes and may be replaced by another screen of dilferent mesh,

if desired, or the screen may be omitted entirely.

The invention'has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, but it will be obvious that numerous modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a dust indicator for a suction cleaning system, wherein the indicator is adapted to be interposed between adjacent tubular elements of the system, said indicator comprising a globular casing member having an inlet and an outlet opening and including a transparent window portion, and means for deflecting air entering said casing against said window, said means comprising an imperfo-rate deflecting annular ring element permanently mounted within said casing and adapted to be positioned diagonally to the inlet and outlet openings; the improvement wherei the ring element is provided with a central annular seat for a removable screen element, and the casing is provided with a removable cover facing the deflecting ring and permitting access to the interior of the casing for removal or replacement of the screen element.

2. In a dust indicator for a suction cleaning system, wherein the indicator is adapted to be interposed between adjacent tubular elements of the system, said indicator comprising a globular casing member havingan inlet and an outlet opening and including a transparent window portion, and means for deflecting air entering said casing against said window, said means comprising 'an innperforate deflecting annular ring element permanently mounted within said'casing and adapted to be positioned diagonally to the inlet and outlet openings; the improvement wherein the ring element is provided with a central annular seat for a removable screen element, and the casing is provided with a removable cover facing the deflecting ring and permitting access to the interior of the casing for removal or replacement of the screen element, said deflecting ring element being shiftable to permitacoumulated dust to be removed from one side by the incoming air.

3. In a dust indicator for a suction cleaning system, wherein the indicator is adapted to be interposed between adjacent tubular elements of the system, said indicator comprising a globular casing member having an inlet and an outlet opening and including a transparent window portion, and means for deflecting air entering said casing against said window, said means comprising an imperforate deflecting annular ring element permanently mounted within said casing and adapted to be positioned diagonally to the inlet and outlet openings;

the improvement wherein the ring element is provided with a central annular seat for a removable screen element, and the casing is provided with a removable cover facing the deflecting ring and permitting access to the interior of the casing for removal or replacement of the screen element, said deflecting is provided with cess to the interior of thecasing for removal or casing member having an system, wherein the indicator is adapted to be interposed between adjacent tubular elements of the system, said indicator comprising a globular casing member having an inlet and an outlet opening and including a, transparent window portion, and means for deflecting air entering sa1d casing against said window, said means comprising an imperforate deflecting ring element permanently mounted; within'said casing and adapted to be positioned diagonally to the inlet and outlet openings; the improvement wherein the ring element is provided with a central seatfor a removable screen element, and the casing a removable cover permitting acreplacement of the screen element, said deflecting ring element, bein carried by a yoke pivoted in the wall of the casing member, said yoke having an external handle, and spring means engaging said handle for normally holding the ring element in its initial position.

5. In a dustindicator system,

the system, said indicator comprising a globular inlet and. an, outlet opening and including a transparent window portion, and means for deflecting air entering said casing against said window, said means comprising an imperforate deflecting ring element permanently mounted within said casing and adapted to be positioned diagonally to the inlet and outlet openings; the improvement wherein the ring element is provided with a central seat for a removable screen element, and the casing is provided with ,a removable cover permitting access to the interior of the casing for removal or replacement of the screen element, said deflecting ring element being carried by a yoke pivoted in the wall of the casing member, said yoke having an external handle, and aguide means for limiting the movement of said handle.

for a suction cleaning wherein the indicator is adapted to be interposed between adjacent tubular elements of system,

to the interior of the casing for removal or replacement of the screen element, said deflecting ring element being carn'ed-by a yoke pivoted in the wallet the casing member, said yoke having anexternal handle, and guide m eans for limiting the movement of the handle, said guide means comprising a U-shaped stirrup mounted on the exterior of said casing member, through which stirrup the handle passes.

'7. In a dust, indicator for'a suction cleaning wherein the indicatoris adapted to be interposed between adjacent tubular elements of the system, said indicator comprising a globular casing member having an inlet and an outlet opening and including a transparent window portion, and means for deflecting air entering said casing againstsaid window, said means comprising an imperforate deflecting ring element permanently mounted within said casing and. adapted to be positioned diagonally to the inlet and outlet openings; the improvement wherein ment is provided witha central seat for a removable screenelement, and the casing is provided with a removable cover permitting access to the interior of the casing for removal or replacement of the screen element, said deflecting ring element being carried by a yoke pivoted in the wall of the casing member, said yoke having an external handle, and guide means for limiting the movement of the handle, said guide means comprising a U-shaped stirrup mountedon theexterior of said casing member, through which stirrup the-handle passes, and spring means hav ing a portion bearing against said stirrup and a portion engaging said handle, serving to hold the defiectingring in its initial position.

8. Inva dust indicator for suction cleaning systems, wherein the indicator is adapted to be the system between the suction nozzle and a source of suction and adapted to be held by the 6. In a dust indicator for a suction cleaning system, wherein the indicator is adapted to be interposed between adjacent tubular elements of the system, said indicator comprising a globular casing member having an inlet and an outlet opening and including a transparent window portion, and means for deflecting air entering said casing against said window, said means comprising an imperforate deflecting ring element permanently mounted within said casing andadapted to be positioned diagonally to the inlet and outlet openings; the improvement wherein the ring element is provided with a central seat for a removable screen element, and the casing is provided with a removable cover permitting access axis within the chamber, theimprovement wherein actuating means for said ring are provided the indicator is grasped by hand of the cleaner operator,said'indicatorineluding a globular casing 'member having a transparent window portion and means within the casing for deflecting entering air against the window, said deflecting means comprising a'ring permanently mounted for rotation about a central permitting rotation of said ring about its axis by the fingers of an operator operator,'said actuating means including a handle member rigidly connected to the ring member .and extending a substantial exterior of the c'asing,said ring being carried bya yoke pivoted in the outervwall of the casing,

distance along the said. handle member being formed integral with said yoke.

the ring ele- I atthe same time that the same hand of the D me BENSON REPLOGLE. 

